Car-coupling



(No Model.) r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. A. GOULD.

CAR COUPLING. No. 495,()32. -Patented Ar. 11, 1893. r

76 ;I U L T IKV'.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES AGOULD, OF BAY SIDE, NEW YORK.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 495,()32, dated Aprl 11, 1893.

Application filed February 6. 1893. Serial No. 461.175. (No model.)

My invention relates to twin-jaw car couplings in whch` the coupling jawswings hori-` zontaliy on the (lrawhead and which are provided with an automatic lock for retaining the jaw in its closed or coupled position and with a kicking device so-called for automati-` cally throwing the jaw'into its open position when released by the lock.

The object of this invention is the p'od uction of a kicking clevice of simple Construction which shall operate with conparatively little friction and whichis not operated by the lock.

In the accompanying drawings consisting of two sheetsz-Figure 1 isalongitudinalsectional elevaton of a car coupling containing my improvenient, showing the conpling jaw locked. Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof, showing the jaw in the same position. Fig. 3 is ahorizontal section of the coupling. Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view of the kicking'device for opening the jaw. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of the coupling showing the jaw thrown to its open position. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the drawhead with the moi/'able parts of the conpling removed. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slack chain substituted for the slotted link by which the kickinglever is actuated.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is the drawhead having the nsual recess.

or chamher A'.

B is the coupling jaw or knuckle pivoted by an upright pin b to the forwardly projecting arm a of the drawhead.

b' is the looking arni of the jaw.

O is the customary lock or pawl for retaining the coupling jaw in its closed position, which is preferably arranged to Swing horizontally on the drawhead.

D is the forwardly-trending lower incline for automatically moving the lock forwardly into engagenent with the arm of the coupling jaw when the jaw is swnnginto its closed position, and E is the usnal rearwardly-trending upper incline for swinging the lock hackward out of engagenent with the coupling jaw, when the lock is raised.

F is the chain or other connectionn 'hereby the vertically movable lock is raised and which is connected with a hand lever arranged on the end of the car in the ordinary manner. The lifting chain may extend to the lock, but it is prefe'ably connected therewith by an inflexible eye bolt f which projects through an opening g in the top of the drawhead, as shown in the drawing-s.

H is the kicking or shifting device for automaticallyopening the coupling jaw, after being unlocked. This shifting device conists of a horizontal rock shaft h arranged in the upper portion of the chambered drawlead on the same side as the coupling jaw, a depending shifting arin or finger 72 extending downward from the rock-shaft and standing, when in its normal position, between the rear side of the locking arm of the coupling jaw and the adjacent innerwall of the drawhead, as most clearly shown in Fig. 2, and a short horizontal actuating arm 7 projecting inwardly from the rear portion of the rock shaft and connected by a bolt or link I, with the chain or connection F for raising the lock of the coupling jaw. The actuat-ing arin of the rock shaft is preferably loifurcated, as shown, and the lower portion of the connecting link I is arranged between the jaws of this bifurcated portion and attached thereto by a transverse pin or rivet 1' passing through said jaws and through a longitudinal slot i' forined in i the link. The rock shaft is provided at its ends with trunnions which turn in suitable hearings in the drawhead. The rock arm does not project laterally into the path of movement of the lock, but is made so short that it clears the same, so that the arm is not affected by the movements of the lock and is operated solely by the lifting chain through the medium of the link I.

In the normal locked position of the coupling jaw, shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the lock is engaged with the looking arin of the jew, and the shifting finger of the kicking device stands behind said looking arm, while the actuating arm thereof is in a substantially hori- IOO zontai position. When it is desired to throw the coupiing jaw to its open position,the1ifting ohain is raised by means of the usual hand lever which is not shown in the drawings. The first portion of this movement of the chain oauses the lock to be raised against the npper incline E, which latter oanses the lock to Swing i.

baokward sufiieiently to clear the looking arm of the coupling jaw. The continued npward pending shifting finger forwardly, which latter, hearing against the looking arm of the coupiing jaw, kicks the jaw `to its open or unooupled position. `In order to prevent :the

shifting finger from being operated simultaneonsiy with the look, the link is formed with the siot e" which permits a deadmovement of the link on the'aetuating arm :of

the shaft unt-ii the lock has oieared the arin of the con-pling jaw, When the lower end of the s'lot comes in contact with the connecte ing pin t', and hencefor-th transmits the u pward `movement of the lifting chain to the' rock shaft. This slackconnection *between the liftingchain and the kicking device nay be estahlished by a slaok'chain insteadof the slotted link-.which Construction isrepresented in Fig. 7. By operatingthearm of thereck' shaft directly 'from the lifting chain, theshaft is actnated with a nininumamount of f'iction -and theconstruction of the kicking device issimplified. When the jaw has been thrownto its open position and the looking; pawl -is dropped, the shifting finger returns by gravity to ;its former pendent position. When the jaw is swung inwardiy to its locked position,its locking arin swings the look-backward on the lower inciineand assoon :as the looking arm has passed inwardlybeyond the' free end of the lock, the iatter rides down its incline and automatically interlocks'with the arm of the conpling j aw, in the ordinary manner.

I claim as my inventiona 1. The combination with the drawhead, the coupling jaw, theiock, and the lifting ohan connected with the lock, of a kicking device tor opening the jaw, and a siack connection extending from the kicking device to the hfting chain, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the drawhead, the coupling jaw, the lock, and the lifting ehain,

-of a kicking device for opening the jaw having a shifting finger for throwing the jaw to its open position, when =n n1ocked,-and an actuating rock arm which ciears the lock, and a slack connection extending from said rock arm to the llitting chain, substantal-ly as set forth.

-3. The-combination with =the-drawhead,-the coupling j aw, the lock, .and `the lifti-ng-chain, of a kicking device for opening the jaw and a oenneetinglinkattachedat one end to the lifting-chain a'nd :having 'at its opposite end a `sliding connection with ;the kick-ing device,

substantialiy as set teeth.

,4. The combination withithed-rawh ead, the

'oou pling jaw, the :1oc`k, and the ,l ifting chain,

of a rock shaft jonrnaled in thedrawhead and having a depending shifting' finger which engagesagainsttheslockingarn of .the coupiing j'aw and -an actuatin-g rock arm which .clears the lock,-.and a -connecting iink attaohed at one end to the `lifting chain and provided at itsopposite end withza long-itndinai siot, and a pin Secured to said 'rock 'arm and passing through said slot, substantially as set forth.

Witnessmy hand this ithday'of February,

CI-IARLES A. GOULD.

`Witnesses:

J No. J BONNER, FRED. C. :Grima 

